It is 1:10 am on Monday morning and I can still look across the city where God has called us. The light hovers at dusk and gives us plenty of vitamin D.
Our language class has dominated our days and nights since it started. I have learned if I am going to be a good student of language then I must spend more of my days and nights practicing. English is spoken so fluently among the country that it is very easy to communicate. This can be a barrier to learning, however. One of my favorite language stories over the last month came when I took Cami and Ben to the pool. I decided to test out my language skills and used the words for “two children” when purchasing tickets. I motioned to myself, assuming the lady taking my debit card would understand I wanted entrance as well. In Iceland when you pay with a debit or credit card most places ask if you want a receipt. I had that in mind when the lady used a phrase I was familiar with from language school. The problem was I was not in school, I was at the pool. So, the phrase she used which means “and you?” was processed in my mind as “do you want a receipt?” I replied with “nei, takk” or no thanks. After the lady gave Cami and Ben their tickets I asked in English, “Where is mine?” She replied in English, “I asked you if you wanted one and you said no thanks.” We laughed and she gave me a free entrance into the pool. A few days later I was at the same pool with Cami and the same woman took our money. I spoke to her in Icelandic and she gave me a smile and a thumbs up. Language learning is as fun as it is humbling. From May 10-20 I was back in the States. It was time to get our container ready for shipping. Many thanks to our church family, Stafford Baptist and Pillar churches, for all the help. The twenty foot container was loaded in an hour and fifteen minutes thanks to the generosity of many friends. Over the next fifteen days we will begin our relocation to our home of the next three years. We look forward to creating many sweet memories in our new home. During the time in the States I also met several new people who are praying about how they may be involved with our ministry in Iceland. It is exciting to see God bring more partners together. On May 22, Ben celebrated his 11th birthday. We are so grateful for God bringing him into our family. Ben’s choice for the perfect birthday dinner was salmon with brownies for dessert. We happen to live in a country that has some really fresh salmon. It was very tasty. Ben got some cool gifts from sisters but his big gift is coming over on the container, a new bike which he says he plans to ride two miles every day. Ben and I played some basketball and ‘around the world’ recently. At the end of the game I shared a thought with Ben to encourage him with basketball and I found it also very appropriate for ministry in Iceland: “Display Patience, Develop Perseverance, and Take Responsibility.” Let me ask you to pray about a few things:
Believing God is going to do something great in the northernmost capital of the world, Reykjavik, Iceland!
4 Comments
5/30/2012 03:52:54 am
Hi There! We are a displaced missionary family and I loved reading your blog. After much research my husband and I were excited to see you settling in Iceland knowing the need for Christ in this area of the world. My family will be visiting Iceland very soon, as my husband is working on a film there in the months of June and July. We would love to visit your church when we are in town. We have two boys, a 5 year old and an 8 year old. The boys and I will be taking a tour around Iceland for the first half of our visit but we will have some stability as well at the end of our stay.
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6/12/2012 04:07:16 pm
Thank you for such a fantastic blog. Where else could anyone get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I have a presentation that I am presently working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
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7/10/2012 06:25:45 pm
I thing You have incredible experience about this wonderful Iceland . I thing this place is really awesome. thanks for sharing this with us
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8/29/2012 08:46:35 pm
In the mind have spring, can be in full bloom; The sea's heart to open; Have a good belly, play to agile; Eyes god made, his eyes to acute; Arms has power, make moves to a hard blow, Steps have rhythm, walk to light.
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AuthorPastor Bill... PBJ as he is known wears turtlenecks a lot, enjoys strong coffee and golf. Archives
August 2012
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